UEFA Champions League Play-offs
Pafos 1 - 1 FT FK Crvena Zvezda
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Miloš Veljković 33'
Rade Krunić 33'
HT
56' ↓ S. Babicka ↑N. Radonjic
56' ↓ Bruno Duarte ↑M. Arnautovic
M. Ivanic (C. Ndiaye) 60'
↓ K. Pileas ↑B. Langa 62'
↓ M. Orsic ↑Jaja 62'
↓ Anderson Silva ↑M. Bassouamina 68'
79' Jajá
86' Bruno
89' Jaja (Pepe)
90'+1 ↓ M. Ivanic ↑P. Olayinka
90'+1 ↓ T. Elsnik ↑A. Katai
↓ Bruno ↑Pedrao 90'+5
90'+8 Pêpê
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Pafos
Midfielders
Matheus 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Seol Young-Woo
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Veljko Milosavljević 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Miloš Veljković
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Nair Tiknizyan 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Timi Max Elšnik 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Rade Krunić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shavy Warren Babicka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
Bruno Duarte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
Mirko Ivanić 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Pape Cherif Ndiaye
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
14%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Omri Glazer 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ivan Guteša
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Rodrigão
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mahmudu Bajo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Felício Milson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aleksandar Katai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Peter Olayinka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vasilije Kostov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nikola Stanković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Franklin Tebo Uchenna
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nemanja Radonjić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marko Arnautović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
FK Crvena Zvezda
Midfielders
Neofytos Michael
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Correia
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
David Goldar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Derrick Luckassen
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Kostas Pileas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Pêpê 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7
Rating
Ivan Šunjić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mislav Oršić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Vlad Dragomir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bruno Felipe
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Anderson Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
BENCH
Petros Petrou
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Thanasis Papadoudis
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Domingos Quina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mons Bassouamina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jajá 
CLUTCH HERO
89
Goal Time
89
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.7
Rating
Ken Sema
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Muamer Tankovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bruno Langa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pedro Henrique
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/19/2025 | FK Crvena Zvezda | 1 - 2 | Pafos | UEFA Champions League | Stadion Rajko Mit |
08/19/2025
Pafos Win
FK Crvena Zvezda Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Pafos
FK Crvena Zvezda
Pafos
FK Crvena Zvezda
Jajá Snatches Champions League Reprieve in Cyprus Thriller
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 46/100. This draw proves that in European football's biggest stage, no lead is safe until the final whistle—a lesson both teams learned the hard way at Alphamega Stadium.
Ivanic's Breakthrough Crumbles in Stoppage Time
M. Ivanic thought he'd delivered the knockout blow for FK Crvena Zvezda in the 60th minute, converting C. Ndiaye's assist to give the Serbian giants a commanding grip on the contest. The intensity shifted decisively in their favour—possession remained locked at 50-50, but Crvena Zvezda's clinical edge suggested they'd cracked the code. Matheus stood firm in goal, producing four saves to keep Pafos breathing, but even his heroics appeared destined to be footnotes to a Serbian victory.
Pafos Refuses to Die
Enter Jajá from the bench. With 89 minutes on the clock and Pafos staring down the stakes of a Champions League defeat, the substitute striker latched onto Pepe's delivery and levelled with a composure that belied the moment's magnitude. The stadium erupted. Crvena Zvezda's grip slipped through their fingers in the cruelest fashion—a draw when victory was within touching distance.
Defensive Solidity Masks Attacking Bluntness
David Goldar anchored Pafos's defence with an outstanding display, his leadership preventing Crvena Zvezda from capitalizing on their territorial control. Both sides mustered 12 shots apiece, but precision remained elusive—Pafos managed five on target from 11 attempts, while Crvena Zvezda's three on-target efforts from 12 shots underscored a shared problem: the final pass, the decisive moment. Possession split evenly at 50-50, yet neither team found the rhythm to dominate. The balance was precarious throughout, tilting towards the Serbian side until that catastrophic final minute.
Key Questions
How did Pafos equalise so late?
Jajá converted Pepe's assist in the 89th minute, denying Crvena Zvezda what appeared a certain victory after Ivanic's 60th-minute opener.
Who was man of the match?
David Goldar (Pafos defender) delivered an outstanding performance, commanding the backline with authority throughout the contest.
What was the turning point?
Jajá's 89th-minute equaliser. Crvena Zvezda dominated after Ivanic's goal but capitulated when it mattered most.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
The Survival Scramble in Cyprus
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 24/100. This playoff encounter at the Alphamega Stadium is less about tactical elegance and more about the sheer desperation of staying alive in Europe’s premier competition.
The Setup
As we approach the match on August 26, 2025, the pressure is reaching a breaking point. Pafos currently sits in 26th place, just two spots below the critical top-24 playoff line. Their Form has been inconsistent, managing only one win in six outings, which puts their continental Stakes at an all-time high. For the visitors, FK Crvena Zvezda, this is an opportunity to exploit a home side that has struggled with defensive Balance throughout the league stage. Every tackle and every transition will carry the weight of a season-defining moment.
Key Battle
The outcome will likely be decided in the transition phase. Without individual stars dominating the headlines, the battle shifts to the home midfield against the away back line. Pafos has struggled to convert possession into goals, and they face a Crvena Zvezda defensive unit that excels at absorbing pressure before launching direct counter-attacks. If the Cypriot side cannot find a clinical edge, they risk being picked apart on the break in a match where a single mistake could signal the end of their Champions League journey.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, high-tension affair where neither side wants to blink first. Pafos will likely dominate the ball but struggle to breach a disciplined defensive block. We foresee a match defined by physical duels rather than fluid play, eventually settling into a 1-1 draw that leaves everything hanging in the Balance for the return leg.